At ABB’s Hackettstown R&D Center, innovation is a mindset. It’s shaped by the people who show up every day with curiosity, grit and a deep sense of purpose.
We visited Hackettstown, New Jersey and sat down with Jeff Gieger, Director of R&D at ABB Hackettstown, NJ, and Kelsey Bush, R&D Engineer, to talk about what drives their work, how they collaborate with customers, and why resilience matters more than ever.
Jeff Gieger, Director of R&D at ABB Hackettstown, NJ 
Kelsey Bush, R&D Engineer at ABB Hackettstown, NJ
Q: What inspired you to work in power infrastructure?
Jeff Gieger:
“Fresh out of college, I worked with the utilities in designing streetlight photocontrols.
Literally keeping the lights on.
This is where I learned the mindset of all the people working within utilities – safety and reliability were always at the forefront.
When I joined ABB Elastimold almost 25 years ago, I brought that insight with me and prioritized safety and reliability in our products to help keep the power on. Now, I’m leading a team of brilliant engineers who are solving real-world problems for utilities.
Every product we design has three factors to consider: safety, reliability and ease of installation.
What drives me is knowing our work helps keep communities safe and connected, especially when the weather turns and power becomes a lifeline.”
Kelsey Bush:
“I’m drawn to the challenge. Every day in R&D is different—new problems, new ideas. Jeff encourages us to get our hands dirty, make mistakes and learn fast. This freedom to explore and grow is what keeps me excited. Plus, I talk directly with utility crews and hear what they need. That connection makes the work feel personal.”
Q: What drives innovation at ABB’s Hackettstown R&D Center?
Jeff Gieger:
“We have a team of about 35 engineers—mechanical, electrical, material science—all bringing different perspectives to the table. Our job is to solve real problems for utilities, and that means listening closely and working together. Innovation here is about building something that lasts, something that works when the stakes are high.”
Q: What role does customer collaboration play in product development?
Jeff Gieger:
“Every utility has their own story and challenges. We go further than handing them a catalog—we invite them in.
We sit down with their teams and collaborate to design solutions that fit their specific needs. Sometimes it’s a custom switchgear, sometimes a cable accessory. And what’s great is that our engineered-to-order solutions often end up helping other customers as well. Some issues are inevitably shared with a grid that wasn’t built to withstand the extreme weather events that we’re facing today.”
Engineers at Hackettstown work closely with utility customers to design solutions that fit their specific needs 
The goal is to develop equipment built for their grid realities 
From customer requirements to custom-engineered solutions 
What starts as a tailored solution can become an industry advantage
Q: How does ABB help utilities prepare for extreme weather?
Kelsey Bush:
“We design with resilience in mind—robust materials, sealed enclosures, and technologies that withstand flooding, high winds and corrosive environments. Our grid-hardening solutions help keep the lights on even in the worst conditions."
Jeff Gieger:
“And then we test. We push every product to its limits—submerging it in meters of water, blasting it with hurricane-force winds, exposing it to lightning strikes, fire and salt fog. It’s about more than meeting standards; it’s knowing, without a doubt, that when the worst happens, our gear will hold.”
Kelsey Bush:
“Take our Elastimold switchgear: it is installed in some of the harshest conditions around the country. In South Florida, facing hurricanes and flooding, Elastimold gear has been powering communities for over 25 years and counting."
As part of testing procedures, Elastimold gets submerged under 10 feet of water 
The dunk tank 
In South Florida, facing hurricanes and flooding, Elastimold gear has been powering communities for over 25 years 
Salt fog chamber at ABB Hackettstown R&D Center 
Salt fog chambers accelerate corrosion testing for long-term resilience. 
Fuse mitigation test area in ABB’s Hackettstown R&D center 
Fuse mitigation under controlled high-voltage conditions 
Every test brings utilities closer to more reliable infrastructure 
Careful analysis ensures testing data translates into real-world performance 
Examining materials at the micro level to ensure long-term performance
Q: What difference does that make?
Kelsey Bush:
“It’s easy to talk about resilience in terms of specs—fewer blackouts, faster restoration, safer operations. And these specs matter a lot. But the real-world impact?
When the power stays on, medical facilities keep running, schools stay safe , and families stay connected. Especially during bad weather, it’s not just about electricity—it’s about warmth, food, medical care, even communication. Every minute without power impacts lives. So, when we design and test our equipment, we’re thinking about voltage – and much more – the nurse who needs light to work, the first responder who needs to charge a radio, the neighbor who relies on medical equipment. That’s what drives us.”
